Playback device, and method of displaying manipulation menu in playback device

ABSTRACT

A plurality of identification miniature images for to-be-replayed objects is displayed simultaneously on a manipulating-function menu screen with taking one of the to-be-replayed objects corresponding to one of the identification miniature images in a predetermined position as a to-be-replayed object of interest. There are displayed a first group of a plurality of manipulating-function items for the respective to-be-replayed objects and a second group of a plurality of manipulating-function items related to a plurality of to-be-replayed objects. While any one of the manipulating-function items included in the first group is being selected, the identification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest is displayed for differentiation from the other identification miniature images. Thus, there is provided a user interface having a high operability and visibility and destined for selection of individual items for manipulation of the to-be-replayed objects such as contents and media, selection of items for manipulation of the plurality of to-be-replayed objects, and other similar operations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a user interface technique adopted in aplayer, suitably applicable to reading of a content from a hard disk,DVD (digital versatile disk) and CD (compact disk), for example.

This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2003-308934 filed on Sep. 1, 2003, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein.

Note in the following description, the “content” means information thehuman can recognize visually and aurally, such as audio data such asmusic, images such as moving and still pictures, text data such aselectronic novels, game programs or the like.

Also, the “medium” means an information storage medium such as a harddisk, optical disk, memory card, magnetic tape or the like, and aninformation transmission medium such as wave, cable or the like. Itshould be noted however that a storage medium such as a game programmedium or a transmission medium, of which the data format andcompression format are different from the “medium”, is differentiatedfrom the “medium”.

2. Description of the Related Art

A video or music content is provided in the form of data stored in amedium to the user. The medium has become greatly diversified, and thecontent has also become diversified. Various types and large volume ofcontent are available. Also, a so-called multimedia player has beenproposed which can replay contents from such various types of media (cf.Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 73428 of 1999).

For such types of players, a user interface is demanded by which theuser can rapidly retrieve a desired content for replay and can edit anddelete the content easily.

In management of applications, folders or files in a personal computer,for example, a miniature image for identification of each of theapplications, folders or files is used as an icon formed from a figureor letter, which will permit quick understanding of the contents ofthem, in order to simplify the user interface.

For processing the application, folder or file corresponding to eachicon, the mouse cursor is placed on the icon and the left button of themouse is clicked to display a pull-down menu, and a correspondingprocess is selected from the menu. Also, for changing the arrayed orderof a plurality of icons, the mouse cursor is placed on other than theicons and the right button of the mouse is clicked to display apull-down menu, and a corresponding process is selected from the menu.

Thus application of the above technique of the personal computer to acontent player is conceivable.

However, many of the content players have only a small display whichdisplays a time-keeping, broadcast channel, type of a medium beingloaded, etc. Such a small display of the player cannot be used similarlyto the personal computer's display.

On this account, it is conceivable to use the screen of a monitorreceiver for displaying a reproduced video output from a content playeras a user interface display of the content player.

However, the screen of the monitor receiver for displaying a reproducedvideo output from the content player will be viewed from a plurality ofdirections (viewers) at the same time. Namely, different from thepersonal computer's display screen, which is placed in front of the userof the personal computer, the monitor receiver screen is viewed at adistance from the screen. Therefore, indication of small letters on anicon, movement of the pointer, etc. as on the personal computer'sdisplay screen is not suitable for use on the monitor receiver screen.

Also, not few users of the content player are well familiar with normalimage manipulations made with the display of the personal computer. Forsuch users of the content player, the above-mentioned user interface ofthe personal computer will not be convenient if it is applied as it isto the content player.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome theabove-mentioned drawbacks of the related art by providing a userinterface having an improved operability and visibility and whichpermits easier selection of individual to-be-replayed objects such ascontents, media, etc. and manipulating-function items for all theto-be-replayed objects.

The above object can be attained by providing a playback deviceaccording to this invention, including:

-   -   a command input unit to accept a manipulation command entered by        the user;    -   a display controller to generate image data on a        manipulating-function menu screen including a plurality of        identification miniature images for respective ones of a        plurality of to-be-replayed objects; and    -   a display output unit to output the manipulating-function menu        screen image data from the display controller to a display unit,        the display controller functioning to:    -   display the plurality of identification miniature images for        respective ones of the plurality of to-be-replayed objects        simultaneously on one display screen with taking one of the        to-be-replayed objects corresponding to one of the        identification miniature images in a predetermined position as a        to-be-replayed object of interest,    -   while displaying a first group of a plurality of        manipulating-function items for each of the to-be-replayed        objects and a second group of a plurality of        manipulating-function items for each of the plurality of        to-be-replayed objects so that one of the manipulating-function        items can be selected by an operation made via the command input        unit, with an indication of which one of the        manipulating-function items is being selected; and    -   display, during selection of any one of the        manipulating-function items included in the first group, the        identification miniature image corresponding to the        to-be-replayed object of interest in such a manner that the        identification miniature image can be differentiated from the        other identification miniature images.

In the above playback device according to this invention, the pluralityof identification miniature images for the respective to-be-replayedobjects (contents, for example) is displayed simultaneously on thedisplay screen with a to-be-replayed object corresponding to anidentification miniature image in a predetermined position, for example,a central identification miniature image, being taken as ato-be-replayed object of interest, and there are displayed the firstgroup of the plurality of manipulating-function items for each ofto-be-replayed objects and the second group of the plurality ofmanipulating-function items for the plurality of to-be-replayed objects.

The first and second groups of manipulating-function items are displayedfor one of them to be selectable by an operation made via the commandinput unit, with an indication of which one of the manipulating-functionitems is being selected, and there is displayed, during selection of anyone of the manipulating-function items included in the first group, theidentification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest in such a manner that the identification miniatureimage can be differentiated from the other identification miniatureimages.

As above, according to this invention, while a manipulating-functionitem such as replay, delete or the like is being selected for one ofinterest of the plurality of to-be-replayed objects displayed as theplurality of identification miniature images, an identificationminiature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interestis displayed in a larger size, for example, for differentiation from theother identification miniature images. Therefore, the user can readilyknow that the manipulating-function item being selected is directed tothe to-be-replayed object of interest.

Also, in the playback device according to this invention, the displaycontroller may be adapted to display the first and second groups ofmanipulating-function items when a predetermined manipulation command isaccepted via the command input unit while the plurality ofidentification miniature images for the respective to-be-replayedobjects is being displayed on one display screen with a to-be-replayedobject corresponding to a identification miniature image in apredetermined position being taken as a to-be-replayed object ofinterest.

According to this invention, the manipulating-function items for theto-be-replayed objects and those for the plurality of identificationminiature images can easily be displayed by making a predeterminedoperation while the plurality of identification miniature images forrespective to-be-replayed objects is being displayed.

In the above playback device, when the predetermined manipulationcommand is entered via the command input unit, the plurality ofidentification miniature images for the respective to-be-replayedobjects is moved to a one-sided position on the display screen, and thefirst and second groups of manipulating-function items are displayed ina space resulted from the movement of the identification miniatureimages.

According to this invention, when the predetermined manipulation commandis entered via the command input unit, the plurality of identificationminiature images is moved to one-sided position, namely, left, right,top or bottom, on the display screen, and the first and second groups ofmanipulating-function items are displayed in the space resulted from themovement of the identification miniature images.

Also, in the playback device, when a first one of the groups ofidentification miniature images is moved to a one-sided position on thedisplay screen, the identification miniature image of the to-be-replayedobject of interest is displayed with an indication of the movement ofthe identification miniature images corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest.

According to this invention, the user can readily know when theplurality of identification miniature images has been moved and wherethe identification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest has been moved.

In the playback device, either of the first and second groups ofmanipulating-function items, whichever includes themanipulating-function item being selected, is displayed being emphasizedfor differentiation from the other group.

According to this invention, the group of manipulating-function itemsone of which is being selected is displayed being emphasized in such amanner that the user can know at a glance that group.

In the playback device, a plurality of types of media can be replayed, aplurality of contents in each of the media can be replayed, and theto-be-replayed object is the content that can be replayed;

-   -   the identification miniature images corresponding to the        to-be-replayed objects are taken as first identification        miniature images while the identification miniature images        corresponding to the respective ones of the plurality of types        of media are taken as second identification miniature images;    -   the display controller functions to:    -   display a menu in which the plurality of first identification        miniature images is arrayed in a first direction on the display        screen while the plurality of second identification miniature        images is arrayed in a second direction intersecting the first        direction, and a content corresponding to one of the first        identification miniature images positioned near the intersection        between the first- and second-directional arrays is taken as a        content in the to-be-replayed object of interest; and    -   display, in the display screen displaying the menu having        displayed thereon the first- and second-directional arrays        intersecting each other, the manipulating-function menu screen        including the first-directional array of the plurality of first        identification miniature images with deletion of the        second-directional array of the plurality of second        identification miniature images, when a predetermined operation        is made via the command input unit.

According the invention, there can be provided a user interface havingthe effect of the invention as a playback device capable of replayingmultiple contents in media of many different types. In the invention,since a to-be-replayed object of interest, that is, a content ofinterest, is taken as a to-be-replayed object in a predeterminedposition near the intersection between the second identificationminiature images corresponding to media, respectively, and the firstidentification miniature images corresponding to contents, respectively,the user can know at a glance which the content of interest is.

In the playback device, at least the first identification miniatureimages arrayed in the first direction is scrolled in the first directionby a predetermined operation made via the command input unit to allowthe content in the to-be-replayed object of interest at the intersectionto be changed.

Even if the contents are too many to be displayed on the display screen,each of them can be selected as a content of interest by scrolling. Itshould be noted that the second identification miniature images for therespective media can also be scrolled. In this case, there is availableto the multimedia player an effective manipulating-function menu (userinterface) for manipulation of many contents in one of many types ofmedium.

Also, the above object can be attained by providing a playback deviceaccording to this invention, including:

-   -   a command input unit to accept a command entered by the user;    -   a display controller to generate image data on a        manipulating-function menu screen including a plurality of        identification miniature images for respective ones of a        plurality of to-be-replayed objects; and    -   a display output unit to output the manipulating-function menu        screen image data from the display controller to a display unit,    -   the display controller functioning to:    -   selectively display, by a predetermined operated made via the        command input unit,        -   a first manipulating-function menu screen in which a            plurality of identification miniature images for respective            ones of the plurality of to-be-replayed objects is displayed            simultaneously on one display screen with a to-be-replayed            objects corresponding to a identification miniature image in            a predetermined position being taken as a to-be-replayed            object of interest and also a first group of a plurality of            manipulating-function items for each of the to-be-replayed            objects is displayed so that one of the            manipulating-function items can be selected by an operation            made via the command input unit, and with an indication of            which one of the manipulating-function items is being            selected, and        -   a second manipulating-function menu screen in which the            plurality of identification miniature images for respective            ones of the plurality of to-be-replayed objects is displayed            simultaneously on one display screen with a to-be-replayed            objects corresponding to the identification miniature image            in a predetermined position being taken as a to-be-replayed            object of interest and also a second group of a plurality of            manipulating-function items for the plurality of            to-be-replayed objects is displayed so that one of the            manipulating-function items can be selected by an operation            made the command input unit, and with an indication of which            one of the manipulating-function items is being selected;            and    -   display, during selection any one of the manipulating-function        items included in at least the first group, the identification        miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of        interest in such a manner that the identification miniature        image can be differentiated from the other identification        miniature images.

According to this invention, there are selectively displayed by apredetermined operation made via the command input unit the firstmanipulating-function menu screen in which there are displayed theplurality of identification miniature images and the first group ofmanipulating-function items including the plurality ofmanipulating-function items for each of the to-be-replayed objects andthe second manipulating-function menu screen in which there aredisplayed the plurality of identification miniature images and thesecond group of manipulating-function items including the plurality ofmanipulating-function items for the plurality of to-be-replayed objects.

The plurality of identification miniature images and the first andsecond groups of manipulating-function items are not displayedsimultaneously, and thus the user can make a ready discriminationbetween selection of one of the manipulating-function items for each ofthe to-be-replayed objects and that of the manipulating-function itemsfor the plurality of to-be-replayed objects.

In addition, since in the first manipulating-function menu screen inwhich one of the manipulating-function items is being selected for eachof the to-be-replayed objects, an identification miniature imagecorresponding to a to-be-replayed object of interest is displayed fordifferentiation from other identification miniature images, so the usercan easily know when one of the manipulating-function items is beingselected for each of the to-be-replayed objects and also for which oneof the to-be-replayed objects one of the manipulating-function items isbeing selected.

According to the present invention, there is provided a user interfacehaving an improved operability and visibility and which permits easierselection of individual to-be-replayed objects such as contents, media,etc. and manipulating-function items for all the to-be-replayed objects.

These objects and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the present invention whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a constructional example of themultimedia playback system including the player as an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a substantial part of the playeras the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an example of the initial menu screen in the player as theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 explains the transition of an example of the initial menu screento a manipulating-function menu screen in the player as the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a first example of the manipulating-function menu screen inthe player as the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the first example of the manipulating-function menu screenin the player as the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a part of a flow of operations made in the substantial partof the player as the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a part of the flow of operations made in the substantialpart of the player as the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a part of the flow of operations made in the substantialpart of the player as the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 explains a second example of the manipulating-function menuscreen in the player as the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 explains the second example of the manipulating-function menuscreen in the player as the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a part of a flow of operations made in the substantialpart of the player as the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 shows a part of the flow of operations made in the substantialpart of the player as the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in detail concerning a playerand method of displaying a user interface display, adopted in theplayer, as embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

The embodiment of the present invention, which will be illustrated anddescribed below, is applied to a player that replays a plurality ofcontents from multiple types of media such as a broadcasting, recordingmedia like optical disks, video game machine, etc. (will be referred toas “multimedia player” hereunder). In the following description of theembodiment of the present invention, the “to-be-replayed object” means acontent.

In case a personal computer is used to replay a plurality of contentsfrom a plurality of media, for example, it uses an individual programlike a “viewer” dedicated for each of the contents. Such an individualprogram is prepared by each of different venders. Normally, no commonuser interface is available for the individual programs, and thus themethods of operating the user interfaces are different from each other.Even if the user interfaces for the programs are unified into a commonuser interface like the so-called portal screen, the common userinterface is only an aggregation of the different user interfaces. Also,it takes a considerable length of time to start up each of the programs,which will provide no swift shift from one to another of the programs.

On the contrary, the embodiment of the present invention has a commonuser interface integrally including functions of reproducing, deletingor otherwise manipulating each of a plurality of contents from multipletypes of media and user interfaces for manipulating all the plurality ofcontents to assure a common operability of the user interface.

Also, the embodiment permits a quick, real-time shift from one toanother of the plurality of media without any operation delay due to theshift between the media. Further, the present invention provides a userinterface easily operable intuitively by the user to assure an improvedconvenience for the user.

<Construction of Multimedia Playback System>

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated the basicconstruction of a multimedia playback system as the embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown, the multimedia playback system, generallyindicated with a reference 10, includes a multimedia player 20 as theembodiment of the present invention.

According to this embodiment, the multimedia player 20 does not includesany display on which an image and graphical user interface screen aredisplayed but includes a video output terminal (not shown) instead. Thevideo output terminal of the multimedia player 20 is connected to amonitor display 30 which is a CRT (cathode-ray tube) or LCD (liquidcrystal display), for example, by a video output terminal connectingcable 31 of the multimedia player 20, and the monitor display 30 has ascreen 32 which displays an image and graphical user interface screen.

Note that in the embodiment in FIG. 1, the monitor display 30 hasspeakers 33L and 33R provided at the opposite ends thereof and which aresupplied with an audio signal from an audio output terminal (not shown)of the multimedia player 20 via a cable (not shown) and reproduce theaudio signal acoustically.

The multimedia player 20 is supplied with content information viavarious types of media such as broadcasting, Internet, optical disk suchas DVD (digital versatile disk), CD (compact disk) or the like, memorycard, etc.

The broadcasting medium will be described below. In this embodiment, aTV broadcast reception antenna 41 is connected to the multimedia player20 which will thus be supplied with a TV broadcast signal received bythe reception antenna 41. Then, in the multimedia player 20, a broadcastprogram content selected by the user is extracted from the TV broadcastsignal, decoded, and a broadcast program image thus formed is displayedon the screen of the monitor display 30 while a sound of the broadcastprogram is acoustically reproduced by the speakers 33L and 33R of themonitor display 30. Also, the multimedia player 20 has also a functionto record the broadcast program content.

Next, the Internet medium will be described. The multimedia player 20has connected thereto a communication (telephone) line 42 which connectsthe multimedia player 20 to the Internet, and web content data acquiredvia the Internet is supplied to the multimedia player 20. The webcontent data can be stored in the multimedia player 20 and also utilizedwith various functions such as a game program function provided in themultimedia player 20.

Further, the optical disk medium will be described. The multimediaplayer 20 has a function to read data in a content stored in an opticaldisk 43 such as DVD, CD or the like, decodes the data thus read andsupplies the data to the monitor display 30 on which the data isdisplayed as an image and from which it is provided as a sound. Theoptical disk can store contents including, for example, images, musicand sound in a movie, music sounds such as classical music, popularsongs and the like, electronic novel, etc. Data in an electronic novelas a content include text data, audio data for recitation, image datasuch as book illustrations, etc.

The memory card will be described. The multimedia player 20 has afunction to read, and a function to write, data stored in a memory card44. The memory card 44 can store content data including a captured imagesuch as a moving picture or still picture captured by a digital camera,sound information incidental to the captured image, etc.

In this embodiment, the multimedia player 20 has a video game function.The multimedia player 20 has connected thereto by an interconnectingcable 51 a command input unit (will be referred to as “remote commander”hereunder) 50 as a video game controller. According to this embodiment,since the remote commander 50 is intended primarily for use as the videogame controller, so it has a relatively small number of control buttons.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the remote commander 50 has fourcontrol buttons 52, 53, 54 and 55 provided at the respective apexes ofan imaginary rhombus, cross-shaped button 56 having directional arrows,start button 57, and a select button 58.

The four control buttons 52, 53, 54 and 55 have provided on their tops,respectively, by printing or the like, special markings like smallcircle, triangle, square and cross in this embodiment as shown inFIG. 1. As will further be described later, four control buttons 52, 53,54 and 55, start button 57 and select button 58 are pre-correlated withpredetermined control items in a graphical user interface displayed onthe screen of the monitor display 30. Also, as will further bedescribed, since the same markings as those provided on the tops of thecontrol buttons 52, 53, 54 and 55 are added to the respective controlitems on the user interface on the display screen, so the user will knowthe correspondence between the control buttons and control items at aglance.

When the user operates one of the control buttons on the remotecommander 50 while the user interface is being displayed on the screenof the monitor display 30, the user interface screen will reflect theoperation of that control button. The remote commander 50 is designed asa part of the multimedia player 20.

<Construction of Multimedia Player 20 (Functional Block Diagram)>

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the major part of themultimedia player 20 as a player according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multimedia player 20 according to thisembodiment includes the remote commander 50, data input/output unit 60,display output unit 70, display controller 80, storage unit 90 and agame performer 100.

The multimedia player 20 includes a microprocessor (CPU (=centralprocessing unit)), hard disk drive, memory, multi-disk drive for opticaldisks such as DVD, CD, etc., memory card drive, drawing circuit for avideo game as hardware, and also programs for functions such as datainput, data holding, image manipulation, drawing, etc. as software. FIG.2 shows functional blocks implemented by the above hardware and softwarein conjunction with each other. Therefore, functions equivalent to thefunctional blocks in FIG. 2 can be represented in various forms by acombination of the hardware and software.

The remote commander 50 includes a directional command accepting unit511 which accepts a directional command for upward, downward, leftwardand rightward move, entered by operating the user's cross-shapeddirectional button 56, and a select command accepting unit 512 whichaccepts a command for content replay, replay stop, menu screen call,etc., entered by operating the other control buttons on the remotecommander 50.

Each of the directional command accepting unit 511 and select commandaccepting unit 412 is a combination of a circuit to detect an operationof each of the plurality of buttons and a program to recognize anoperated button.

In this embodiment, the directional command accepting unit 511 includesthe cross-shaped directional button 56. The cross-shaped directionalbutton 56 may be replaced with a joystick. In the directional commandaccepting unit 511, an oblique direction may be recognized in a digitalmanner (with a binary value) or analog manner (with a plurality ofternary or greater values). In this embodiment, however, when a commandfor oblique direction is given by the user operating the remotecommander 50 in any of the recognition manners, the command for obliquedirection is regarded as either a command for vertical direction or acommand for horizontal direction. In this embodiment, priority is givento the command for horizontal direction, for example, and the commandfor oblique direction is taken as a command for vertical direction.

Of the buttons provided as the select command accepting unit 512, onecorrelated with a call for the menu screen is the start button 57 inthis embodiment. The start button 57 is of a toggle type. Namely, eachtime the start button 57 is pressed, the medium selection and contentselection screens on the user interface screen, which will be describedin detail later, are alternately turned on and off.

Button-operation information accepted by the directional commandaccepting unit 511 and select command accepting unit 512 of the remotecommander 50 is sent to the display output unit 70, display controller80 and game performer 100.

As shown, the data input/output unit 60 includes a broadcast input unit61, network communication unit 62, disk read head 63, and a memory cardread/writ head 64.

The broadcast input unit 61 is a functional block by which themultimedia player 20 acquires broadcast program content data on aselected channel from TV broadcast signals received by the antenna 41.The network communication unit 62 is a functional block by which themultimedia player 20 downloads data such as web content via the Internetand uploads predetermined information via the Internet in a networkvideo game.

The disk read head 63 reads content data from the optical disk 43 suchas DVD or CD and supplies the data to the multimedia player 20. Thememory card read/write head 64 is a functional block by which themultimedia player 20 reads data from, or writes data to, the memory card44.

The data supplied to the multimedia player 20 via each of the blocks 61to 64 included in the data input/output unit 60 is sent to the displayoutput unit 70, display controller 80, storage unit 90 and gameperformer 100.

The storage unit 90 includes a hard disk drive and a software forreading and writing content data, for example. It stores broadcastprogram content data supplied from the broadcast input unit 61 of thedata input/output unit 60, web content data supplied via the networkcommunication unit 62, content such as music, movie or the like readfrom the optical disk 43, content such as still image, moving picture orthe like read from the memory card read/write head 64.

The storage unit 90 also stores image data on identification miniatureimages for respective ones of a plurality of media which can be replayedby the multimedia player 20 (will be referred to as “medium icon”hereunder) and image data on identification miniature images forrespective ones of a plurality of contents which indicate what thecontents are (will be referred to as “content icon” hereunder).

In this embodiment, since the plurality of media that can be replayed bythe multimedia player 20 are specific ones, the medium icons use aidentification miniature image such as letters, figure or symbol foreach medium.

The content icon uses a small image or a so-called thumbnail of a videocontent. A moving-picture content uses a small image of a typical frame,while a still image content uses its small image.

For music content, a content icon is formed from letters of a title,genre and artist's name as data incidental to a CD, web content orbroadcast content, symbol or figure. The music content icon mayautomatically be prepared from information incidental to the content ormay be prepared by the user himself or herself. The medium and contenticons are used as identification miniature images for media and contentson the menu screen as a user interface screen.

In FIG. 2, the generation unit for such medium and content icons isomitted for the simplicity of the illustration and explanation.

The display output unit 70 includes a decoder 71, output buffer 72,on-screen buffer 73 and synthesizer 74.

The decoder 71 decodes, in response to a command entered by the useroperating the remote commander 50, coded broadcast content data suppliedfrom the data input/output unit 60 or storage unit 90 or codedreproduced data such as movie, music or the like from a DVD or CD, andstores the decoded image data, music data, etc. into the output buffer72.

The output buffer 72 is provided to provisionally store recorded imagedata or music data to be supplied to the monitor display 30 before thesupply to the latter.

The on-screen buffer 73 stores image data on the user interface screengenerated by the display controller 80, for example, as image data foron-screen display. The on-screen buffer 73 is provided to provisionallystore image data for on-screen display such as the user interface screenimage information etc. before supply to the monitor display 30.

the synthesizer 74 combines reproduced image data from the output buffer72 and user interface screen image data from the on-screen buffer 73,converts the combined data into analog signal, and supplies theconverted data to the monitor display 30.

The display controller 80 includes a menu manager 81, content controller82, effector 83 and image generator 84.

The menu manager 81 manages, as menu items, one or more manipulatingfunctions available for each type of media and each medium, one or moremanipulating functions for each of contents in a selected medium, andone or more manipulating functions for all contents icons in theselected medium.

Also, the menu manager 81 stores content attribute informationindicating what a content stored in the storage unit 90 is and attributeinformation on a content supplied via the data input/output unit 60, andalso the type of a currently selected medium and content attributeinformation on this medium. The content attribute information includesthe title, genre, artist's name of the content (broadcast program,movie, album, etc.), by which the content can be recognized.

Based on a user's command accepted by the remote commander 50 from theuser interface screen, the content controller 82 controls thereproduction or replay of a medium to be selected in response to thecommand, selection of data supply to the data input/output unit 60, datasupply from the storage unit 90, data storage to the storage unit 90,and operation of the game performer 100.

Also based on a user's command accepted by the remote commander 50 fromthe user interface screen, the effector 83 controls movement of a mediumicon and content icon displayed in a menu on the user interface screen.More specifically, in this embodiment, the effector 83 controlsscrolling through a medium icon array and content icon array, emphasizeddisplay of a medium icon and content icon of interest, movement of thecontent icon array on the user interface screen, rotation of the contenticon of interest, etc.

The emphasized display of a medium icon and content icon of interest isto differentiate these icons from other ones by displaying them in adifferent way from the other icons. For example, the icon of interest isdisplayed in a different color from that of the other icons and in alarger size than that of the other icons. Also in these cases, adistinction is given to the manner of change in color and also to themanner of enlarging.

The image generator 84 generates an image of the user interface screen.More particularly, the image generator 84 generates an image of theinitial menu screen including a horizontal array of medium icons and avertical array of content icons, as will be described in detail later.The initial menu screen is intended for selection of a medium andcontent. The two icon arrays intersect each other nearly in the vicinityof the center of the initial menu screen. The image generator 84cooperates with the effector 83 to emphasize in appearance a medium iconand content icon displayed at the point of intersection and near theintersection, respectively, in order to differentiate these icons fromother icons.

Also the image generator 84 cooperates with the effector 83 to generateimage data indicating scrolling through, and movement of, theabove-mentioned icon arrays, and rotation of a content icon, which aremade in response to a user's command accepted by the remote commander 50from the user interface screen.

The game performer 100 executes a game program read by the disk readhead 63 from the optical disk 43 or a game program read from the storageunit 90. The game performer 100 executes the game program according to auser's command accepted by the remote commander 50, and sends image andsound of the game to the display output unit 70.

<Example of User Interface>

FIG. 3 shows an example of the initial menu screen on the user interfacescreen generated by the multimedia player 20 and displayed on thedisplay screen 32 of the monitor display 30. This example of the initialmenu screen appears and disappears on the display screen 32 each timethe start button 57, for example, on the remote commander 50.

As shown, the initial menu screen displays a two-dimensional array inwhich a horizontal medium icon array 200 and vertical content icon array300 intersect each other nearly in the center of the screen.

Since the medium icons included in the medium icon array 200 are IDsmall images indicating the types of media that can be replayed by themultimedia player 20, they are predetermined ones. In the example shownin FIG. 3, the medium icons included in the medium icon array 200include a photo icon 201, music icon 202, moving-picture icon 203,broadcast icon 204, optical disk icon 205 and a game icon 206.

The content icons included in the medium icon array 300 are ID smallimages of a plurality of contents stored in the storage unit 90 andcurrently included in a medium (medium of interest) at the intersectionof the content icon array 300 with the medium icon array 200. In thisexample, the content icon array 300 includes six content icons 301 to306 displayed on the screen. As having previously been described, thecontent icons are thumbnails as miniature images of images, letters orfigures.

The user interface screen is an on-screen display. Namely, it is like atranslucent screen over an image of a video content displayed on thedisplay screen 32.

The display screen 32 has a background area 34. When a content imagebeing currently replayed is displayed in this background area 34, theeffector 83 colors the entire area, defined by a dashed line in FIG. 3,of the medium icon area 200 and content icon area 300 for easierdifferentiation between these icon areas 200 and 300, or adjust thebrightness of the content image. Of course, only the medium icon orcontent icon may be displayed without coloring or brightness adjustment.

In this example, the medium icon array 200 is not movable vertically. Itis displayed still in a position slightly above the vertical center asshown in FIG. 3, for example. However, the entire medium icon array 200including the plurality of medium icons is movable horizontallyaccording to a user's command for horizontal direction entered byoperating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on the remote commander50.

Also, the content icon array 300 is not movable horizontally. It isdisplayed still in a position slightly to the left of the horizontalcenter as shown in FIG. 3, for example. However, the entire content iconarray 300 including the plurality of content icons is movable verticallyaccording to a user's command for vertical direction entered byoperating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on the remote commander50.

As above, the plurality of medium icons 201 to 206 is arrayedhorizontally as the medium icon array 200. The medium icon array 200 isdisplayed still against vertical move, and the content icon array 300 inwhich the plurality of content icons 301 to 306 is laid vertically isdisplayed still against horizontal move. So, an area 200C ofintersection between the medium and content icon arrays 200 and 300 isstationary in a position obliquely above the center of the displayscreen 32.

In this example, the content controller 82 recognizes a medium icondisplayed in the intersectional area 200C as a medium icon (medium iconof interest) being selected among the plurality of medium icons in themedium icon array 200.

In this example, the effector 83 emphasizes the display of a medium iconin the intersectional area 200C by displaying it in a larger size thanthat of the other medium icons and in a different color from that of theother medium icons. In the example in FIG. 3, the moving picture icon203 is displayed in the intersectional area 200C in a different colorfrom that of the other medium icons and in a larger size than that ofthe other medium icons, as shown, which indicates the moving pictureicon 203 is currently selected.

Also in this example, the content controller 82 recognizes a contenticon in an area 300C beneath the intersectional area 200C as a contenticon (content icon of interest) being currently selected. In thisexample, the effector 83 displays the content icon of interest in thearea 300C in a larger size than that of the other content icons in orderto differentiate the content icon of interest from the other contenticons.

As above, in this embodiment, an icon displayed in the stationaryintersectional area 200C is taken as a medium icon of interest, and anicon displayed in the area 300C (will be referred to as “area ofinterest” hereunder) beneath the intersectional area 200C is taken as acontent icon of interest. Thus, in this embodiment, the user's selectionof a medium is such that the medium icon array 200 is scrolledhorizontally until a medium icon corresponding to a desired mediumappears in the intersectional area 200C, while the user's selection of acontent is such that the content icon array 300 is scrolled verticallyuntil a content icon corresponding to a desired content appears in thearea of interest 300C.

In response to a user's command for horizontal direction entered byoperating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on the remote commander50, the entire medium icon array 200 is moved horizontally and a mediumicon in the intersectional area 200C will have the color and sizethereof changed. Therefore, the user can select a medium just bydesignating the horizontal direction, without having to make any setcommand like mouse clicking which would be made at the personalcomputer.

Also at this time, the effector 83 will move the medium iconshorizontally by scrolling the entire medium icon array 200 horizontally.In this example, the medium icons included in the medium icon array 200are displayed moving line a carousel. Thus, so long as the usercontinuously designates either the leftward or rightward move, all themedium icons can be displayed one after another in the center of thedisplay screen 32.

While each medium icon is being moved horizontally, the effector 83displays all the medium icons in the same color and size. When themedium icon array 200 is stopped and any of the medium icons is set inthe intersectional area 200C, the effector 83 will emphasize the mediumicon of interest by displaying it in a different color and size fromthose of the other medium icons.

Also, the effector 83 may change the color by varying the elements suchas brightness, color saturation, chromaticity, etc. of the medium iconof interest or flickering the display of the medium icon of interest.Thus, since a medium icon in the intersectional area 200C is displayedin a different manner from that in which the other medium icons aredisplayed, the user can easily select his desired medium.

While the medium icons are being moved horizontally but no medium iconis positioned in the intersectional area 200C, the effector 83 will notdisplay the content icon array 300. When any medium icon is set in theintersectional area 200C, the effector 83 will move the content iconarray 300 vertically in relation to the intersectional area 200C.

Just scrolling the medium icons horizontally toward the intersectionalarea 200C, the user can recognize a content belonging to the medium icondisplayed in the intersectional area 200C, and also can recognize themedium on the basis of a displayed content. Reversely, when a commandfor horizontal direction is entered by operating the remote commander 50while the content icon array 300 is being displayed, the effector 83will display the content icon array 300 moving toward the intersectionalarea 200C.

In response to a user's command for vertical direction entered byoperating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on the remote commander50, the entire content icon array 300 is moved vertically and changed incolor and size of the content in the area of interest 300C beneath theintersectional area 200C.

The effector 83 moves the content icon vertically by scrolling theentire content icon array 300 vertically. The content icons included inthe content icon array 300 are also displayed moving like a carousel.Thus, Thus, so long as the user continuously designates either theupward or downward move, all the content icons can be displayed oneafter another on the display screen 32.

When the user operates the remote commander 50 to make a command foroblique direction, the remote commander 50 will take the command foroblique direction as a command for vertical direction. So, priority isgiven to the scrolled display of the content icon array 300. Therefore,it is possible to prevent any inadvertent change of medium from one toanother, namely, any horizontal scrolling of the medium icon array 200,while the user is scrolling the plurality of content icons.

The effector 83 displays a content icon positioned in the area ofinterest 300C in a larger size as a content icon of interest. The othercontent icons will be displayed in a smaller size than that of thecontent icon of interest. The effector 83 will display a video title anddate of recording, for example, as attributes of a content correspondingto the content icon of interest in a position near the content icon ofinterest, for example, to the right of the content icon of interest, inthe example shown in FIG. 3, for example.

The image generator 110 displays the medium icon array 200 in a positionsomewhat above the vertical center of the display screen 32, and thecontent icon array 300 a little to the left of the horizontal center ofthe display screen 32. Thus, a combination of the content icon ofinterest and attributes of the content is displayed nearly in the centerof the display screen 32. The user can view the content icon of interestand attributes of the content in the center of the display screen 32 andthus can easily recognize the contents of them.

While each of the content icons is being quickly moved vertically, theeffector 83 displays all the content icons in the same size. When thevertical move is stopped and any of the content icons is set in the areaof interest 300C, the effector 83 will increase the size of the contentof interest. It should be noted that the effector 83 may change thecolor by varying the elements such as brightness, color saturation,chromaticity, etc. of the content icon of interest or flickering thedisplay of the content icon of interest.

As above, the multimedia player 20 display an initial menu screenincluding the medium icon array and content icon array on the displayscreen 32 of the monitor display 30.

Note here that the photo icon 201 is a medium icon to be selected whenan image stored in the storage unit 90 is replayed. The image to bereplayed is mainly a still image or moving picture captured using adigital camera. It is read from the memory card 44, for example. Thecontent icon displayed when the photo icon 201 is set in theintersectional area 200C is a thumbnail of a still image or a movingpicture. As attributes of the content, photographic information such asdate of photo taking, file size, etc. are displayed.

The music icon 202 is a medium icon to be selected when music datastored in the storage unit 90 is replayed. The music data to be replayedis data read from the optical disk 43, for example, and compressed witha specific coding technique. A content icon displayed when the musicicon 202 is set in the intersectional area 200C may be displayed foreach music piece or each album. As attributes of the content,information such as title, playing time, etc. of the music or album aredisplayed. The music data may include moving picture data such as apromotion video of a music piece. In this case, the thumbnail of themoving picture may be taken as a content icon.

The moving picture icon 203 is a medium icon to be selected when acaptured image stored in the storage unit 90 is replayed. The capturedimage to be replayed is a moving picture obtained by recording a TVprogram supplied via the broadcast input unit 61 or moving picturecaptured using a digital video camera and compressed with a specificcoding technique. In this case, thumbnails of frames included in amoving picture are taken as content icons. As attributes, informationsuch as date of photography, playing time, etc. are displayed.

The broadcast icon 204 is a medium icon to be selected when a TV programsupplied via the broadcast input unit 61 is replayed. The content iconsmay be displayed for each, broadcast station or channel. As attributes,information such as a broadcasting station name, broadcast channel,program title, broadcast time, etc. acquired on the basis of data suchas EPG (electronic program guide), for example, are displayed. The EPGdata is extracted from TV broadcast signals on which it is multiplexed,for example.

The disk icon 205 is a medium icon to be selected when an image or musicstored in the optical disk 44 is replayed. When a DVD is recognized asthe optical disk 44, letters “DVD” are displayed under the medium icon.When a CD is recognized, letters “CD” are displayed under the mediumicon. In case a moving picture is stored in the DVD or CD, a thumbnailthereof is taken as a content icon. If a music piece is stored in theDVD or CD, a mark indicating a music, mark indicating a music number ormusic genre or the like is taken as a content icon. As attributes,information such as a title, playing time, etc. of the image or musicpiece is displayed.

The game icon 206 is a medium icon to be selected when a game program isreplayed. The game program to be replayed is a game program stored inthe storage unit 90 or a game program read from the optical disk 44. Incase the game program includes a game icon as data, the game icon isdisplayed as a content icon. As attributes, information such as a titleetc. of the game program is displayed.

As above, the medium icon array 200 and content icon array 300 displayedon the display screen 32 include a line of medium icons, and a line ofcontent icons, respectively. When the array is scrolled vertically,icons of different contents in different media are displayed one afteranother. Therefore, the user will feel as if multiple contents were laidin the form of a matrix over the display screen.

Freely moving the matrix including the multiple contents, the user canselect a desired content with a feeling as if he or she focuses his orher desired content. However, since not so many icons are actuallydisplayed on the screen, the user will definitely recognize the icons onthe display screen.

Just by designating a horizontal or vertical direction, the user canselect contents one after another. Namely, the user can make theso-called zapping simply and smoothly.

A content icon of interest is always placed nearly in the center of thedisplay screen 32. So the user can select a content with a feeling as ifhe peeped into a desired content from a window provided in the center ofthe display screen 32, and locate a content icon of interest at a glanceeven when he operates the remote commander 50 from a position apart fromthe display screen 32.

Therefore, the user can be rather relaxed in operating the remotecommander 50 without having to intentionally locate a content icon ofinterest on the display screen 32.

In the initial menu screen having been described above, replay of acontent corresponding to a content icon of interest displayed in thearea of interest 300C can be started by pressing any of the controlbuttons on the remote commander 50, to which the setting function isassigned. When the set key is pressed, control information will besupplied to the display controller 80 via the remote commander 50, theimage generator 84 will inhibit the image of the initial menu screenfrom being displayed, and the content controller 82 will start replayingthe selected content.

When the user enters a command for calling the initial menu screen byoperating the remote commander 50 during replay of the content, theinitial menu screen will be displayed being superposed on the screen onwhich the content is being replayed. A status in which the replay of thecontent has been set is reproduced on the initial menu screen thusdisplayed.

Also, in this embodiment, a manipulating-function menu screen isprovided in a layer under the initial menu screen. Themanipulating-function menu will be opened by pressing a specific one ofthe control buttons on the remote commander 50.

The manipulating-function menu includes:

-   -   (1) one or more manipulating-function items such as edition,        replay, deletion, etc., for example, of a content corresponding        to a content icon of interest being displayed in the area of        interest 300C; and    -   (2) one or more manipulating-function items, such as change of        arrayed order, of a plurality of content icons included in the        content icon array 300.

The user selects a desired one of the manipulating-function items on themanipulating-function menu screen.

Note here that one or more manipulating-function items such as edition,replay, deletion, etc., for example, of a content correspond to a firstgroup of manipulating-function items while one or moremanipulating-function items for the plurality of content iconscorrespond to a second group of manipulating-function items.

In this embodiment, the initial menu screen also includes a controlbutton display 400 showing the correspondence between the set key andcontrol keys for opening the manipulating-function menu and the controlbuttons on the remote commander 50, as shown in FIG. 3. The controlbutton display 400 shows letters for indicating control functionscorresponding to the circle, triangle, square and cross marks providedon the tops of the four control buttons on the remote commander 50. Inthe example shown in FIG. 3, the control button 53 with a circle markprovided on the top thereof is assigned to a set key (Enter) and thecontrol button 52 having a triangle mark on the top thereof is assignedto an option key (Option) for opening the manipulating-function menuscreen.

As above, when the control button 53 as a set key on the remotecommander 50 is pressed, a content corresponding to a content icon ofinterest will be replayed. Also, when the control button 52 as an optionkey on the remote commander 50 is pressed, there will be opened themanipulating-function menu screen which will be described below.

<First Example of the Manipulating-Function Menu Screen>

When the control button 52 as an option key on the remote commander 50is pressed, the image generator 83 deletes the medium icon array 200,moves the content icon array 300 positioned nearly in the center of theinitial menu screen as in FIG. 4A to the left end of the display screen32 of the monitor display 30, and generates image data on amanipulating-function menu screen in which a menu 501 including thefirst group of manipulating-function items and a menu 502 including thesecond group of manipulating-function items are displayed in a spaceresulted from the deletion of the medium icon array 200 and movement ofthe content icon array 300, as shown in FIG. 4B, and the image data issent to the display output unit 70. The display output unit 70 suppliesthe image data to the monitor display 30 to display themanipulating-function menu screen on the display screen 32 of themonitor display 30.

For moving the content icon array 300 when shifting from the initialmenu screen to the manipulating-function menu screen, the effector 83moves a content icon of interest in the area of interest 300C to theleft end of the display screen 32 in FIG. 4B while rotating the image ofthe content icon. By rotating the image of the content icon of interestin the area of interest 300C, the user can visually recognize that thecontent icon array is being moved, and also can easily recognize wherethe content icon of interest has been moved.

As mentioned above, the first group of manipulating-function items inthe menu 501 includes one or more manipulating-function items for acontent corresponding to the content icon of interest (will be referredto as “content of interest” hereunder), that is, edit, protective set,rename, replay, replay resume and delete, in this example.

The manipulating function “edit” is to make a play list edition or thelike for replaying only a predetermined part. The “protective set” is afunction to provide a protection against content data deletion from thestorage unit 90. The “rename” function is to rename the content title.The “replay” function can be performed by pressing the set key on theaforementioned initial menu screen. In this embodiment, however, the“replay” function is provided to replay a content of interest byselecting a corresponding function in the manipulating-function menu aswell. The manipulating function “replay resume” is to be selected forresuming the replay of the content of interest at the end point of apreceding replay. The function “delete” is to delete the data in thecontent of interest from the storage unit 90.

In this example, the second group of manipulating-function items in themenu 502 includes one or more manipulating-function items for the entirecontent icon array 300 displayed at the left end of the display screen32. In this example, it includes a plurality of changes of display orderof content icons. The display-order change items include “ID-basedascending”, “Date-based ascending”, “Date-based descending” and“Title-based ascending” in this example.

The “ID-based ascending” is to arrange the content icons in an ascendingorder from the lowest ID number. The “Date-based ascending” is toarrange the content icons in an ascending order from the earliest datewhen the corresponding content was stored in the storage unit 90. The“Date-based descending” is to arrange the content icons in a descendingorder from the latest date when the corresponding content was stored inthe storage unit 90. The “Title-based ascending” is to arrange thetitles of contents in the alphabetic order.

By operating the vertical-directional portion of the cross-shapeddirectional button 56 on the remote commander 50, it is possible toselect any of a plurality of manipulating-function items in the firstgroup in the menu 501 of manipulating-function items and second group ofmanipulating-function items in the menu 502. For visual information tothe user, a line including a manipulating-function item currentlyselected is displayed in a different color and transparency than thoseof the other lines.

In this example, in the initial manipulating-function menu screen havingreplaced the initial menu screen, there is being selected the item“edit” in the first group of manipulating-function items in the menu 501as shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the manipulating-function item beingselected is displayed being hatched.

In this embodiment, while the manipulating-function item being selectedis an item included in the first group of manipulating-function items inthe menu 501, a content icon of interest in the content icon array 300is displayed in a different color and size from those of the othercontent icons for differentiation from the latter, as shown in FIG. 5.

When the manipulating-function item being selected is replaced with amanipulating-function item in the second group of manipulating-functionitems in the menu 502 as shown in FIG. 6 by the user operating thecross-shaped directional button 56 on the remote commander 50, thecontent icon in the area of interest of the content icon array 300 isdisplayed in the same size and color as those of the other content iconsfor it is not necessary to differentiate only a content icon of interestfrom the other content icons because the manipulating-function items inthe second group in the menu 502 are directed to any content of interestbut to all contents in a medium of interest. Also, by displaying acontent icon of interest in the same manner as that in which the othercontent icons are displayed, it can be informed to the user that amanipulating function is not being selected for one content of interestbut a manipulating function for a plurality of contents, namely, allcontents in one medium, is being selected in this example.

In this embodiment, for easier visual recognition of which of the menus501 and 502 of the first and second groups of manipulating-functionitems, respectively, a manipulating function is being selected from, thegroup of manipulating-function items including a manipulating-functionitem being selected is displayed being emphasized with the display sizethereof being made larger than that of the other group ofmanipulating-function items. The display in the larger size will lead toa larger display size of the letters of the selectedmanipulating-function item, which will help the user in selecting amanipulating-function item more easily.

Note that the emphasized display for differentiation between the menus501 and 502 of the first and second manipulating-function items is notlimited to the above-mentioned change of size, but this emphasis mayalso be done by displaying in different colors as in the aforementioneddisplay of icons in the intersectional area 200C and area of interest300C.

Next, operations for display of the initial menu screen andmanipulating-function menu screen in the multimedia player according tothis embodiment as well as those made in response to commands entered bythe user operating the remote commander 50 will be described below withreference to the flow diagrams in FIGS. 7 to 9. The steps in the flowdiagrams are effected by the CPU in the multimedia player 20 accordingto a program stored in a memory such as ROM.

That is, when one of the buttons on the remote commander 50, which isassigned a function to display the initial menu screen, for example, thestart button 57, is pressed while a content is being replayed at themultimedia player, the image generator 84 is supplied with imageinformation on ID small images such as medium icon and content icon fromthe storage unit 90, generates image data on the initial menu screen,and supplies the image data to the monitor display 30 via the displayoutput unit 70. Therefore, the aforementioned initial menu screen asshown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display screen 32 of the monitordisplay 30 (in step S101).

Next, the CPU in the multimedia player 20 judges whether a command forhorizontal direction has been entered by the user pressing thecross-shaped direction button 56 on the remote commander 50 (in stepS102). When the result of judgment is affirmative, namely, when it isdetermined that the command for horizontal direction has been soentered, the effector 83 will move the medium icon array 200 on theinitial menu screen in any designated horizontal direction (in stepS103).

Then, the CPU controls the effector 83 and image generator 84 toemphasize a medium icon set in the intersectional area 200C (in stepS104), and it is supplied with a plurality of content icons for themedium from the storage unit 90 and displays the plurality of contenticons in a vertical array crossing the intersectional area 200C (in stepS105).

Next, when it is determined in step S102 that the command for horizontaldirection has not been entered or when the content icons are displayedin the vertical array in step S105, the CPU will judge whether a commandfor vertical direction has been entered by the user pressing thecross-shaped directional button 56 on the remote commander 50 (in stepS106).

When it is determined in step S106 that the command for verticaldirection has been so entered, the effector 83 will move the contenticon array 300 on the initial menu screen in any vertical direction (instep S107).

Then, the CPU controls the effector 83 and image generator 84 toemphasize a content of interest in the area of interest 300C (in stepS108), and display the attributes of a content corresponding to theemphasized content icon of interest at the right (in step S109). When itis determined in step S106 that the command for vertical direction hasnot been entered, the CPU will skip over steps S107 to S109.

Next, the CPU will judge whether the control button 53 corresponding tothe set (enter) key has been pressed on the remote commander 50 (in stepS110). When it is determined that a content replay set command has beenentered, the CPU will delete the initial menu screen and replay thecontent of interest (in step S111).

Next, the CPU judges whether a command for displaying the initial menuscreen has been entered while the content of interest is being displayed(whether the start button 57 has been pressed) (in step S112). When itis determined that the command has been so entered, the CPU will returnto step S101 where it will display the initial menu screen on the imagebeing displayed.

When it is determined in step S112 that the command for displaying theinitial menu screen has not been entered, the CPU will judge whether aquit command has been entered (whether the control button 54 has beenpressed, for example) (in step S113). When it is determined that thequit command has not been entered, the CPU will go back to step S112. Onthe contrary, when it is determined that the quit command has been soentered, the CPU will quit this operation routine.

Also, when it is determined in step S110 that the content replay setcommand has not been entered, the CPU will judge whether the controlbutton 52 on the remote commander 50 has been pressed to enter a commandfor option (in step S121 in FIG. 8). When it is determined that thecommand for option has not been entered, the CPU will judge whether anyother control button has been operated (in step S122). When it isdetermined that no other control button has been operated, the CPU willgo back to step S102 where it will repeat steps including S102 andsubsequent steps. When it is determined in step S122 that any otherbutton has been operated, the CPU will perform an operationcorresponding to the operated button (in step S123).

When it is determined in step S121 that the command for option has beenentered, the CPU will move the content icon array 300 to the left end ofthe display screen 32 while rotating the content icon of interest asshown in FIG. 4B (in step S124).

Then the CPU will position the content icon array 300 at the left end ofthe display screen 32 and display the menu 501 including the first groupof manipulating-function items and menu 502 including the second groupof manipulating-function items on the manipulating-function menu screen(in step S125). As having been described above, since amanipulating-function item being selected is taken as an item includedin the first group of manipulating-function items in the menu 501 inthis condition, the content icon of interest will be displayed in alarger size than that of the other content icons as shown in FIG. 5.

Next, the CPU judges whether another manipulating-function item has beenselected by operating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on theremote commander 50 (in step S126). When it is determined that any othermanipulating-function item has not been selected, the CPU will judgewhether a set command has been entered by operating the control button53 (in step S129). When it is determined that the set command has beenso entered, the CPU will carry out the selected manipulating-functionitem (in step S130).

When it is determined in step S129 that no set command has been entered,the CPU will judge whether a command for return operation has beenentered by pressing the control button 54 on the remote commander 50 (instep S131). When it is determined that the return operation command hasbeen so entered, the CPU will go back to step S101 where it will displaythe initial menu screen on the display screen 32. When it is determinedin step S131 that no return operation command has been so entered, theCPU will judge whether any other button has been operated (in stepS1132). When it is determined that any other button has not beenoperated, the CPU will go back to step S126 where it will repeat stepsincluding S126 and subsequent steps. Also, when it is determined in stepS132 that any other button has been operated, the CPU will perform amanipulating function corresponding to the operated button (in stepS133).

Also, when it is determined in step S126 that anothermanipulating-function item has been selected, the CPU will judge whetherthe selected other manipulating-function item is a manipulating-functionitem included in the second group in the menu 502 (namely, themanipulating-function item has been shifted from one included in thefirst group of manipulating-function items in the menu 501 to oneincluded in the second group of manipulating-function items in the menu502) (in step S127). When it is determined in step S127 that theselected other manipulating-function item is one included in the firstgroup of manipulating-function items in the menu 501, the CPU willdisplay the selected manipulating-function item in a different colorfrom that of other items for differentiation between them (in stepS128). Thereafter, the CPU goes to step S129 where it will repeat stepsincluding S129 and subsequent steps.

When it is determined in step S127 that the selected othermanipulating-function item belongs to the second group ofmanipulating-function items in the menu 502, the CPU will display themenu 502 including the second group of manipulating-function items in alarger size while changing the enlarged display of the menu 501including the first group of manipulating-function items to thenormal-size one. Then, the CPU will show the manipulating-function itemselected from the first group in a color different from that of theother manipulating-function items (in step S141 in FIG. 9).

Next, the CPU judges whether another manipulating-function item has beenselected by operating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on theremote commander 50 (in step S142). When it is determined that any othermanipulating-function item has not been selected, the CPU will judgewhether a set command has been entered by operating the control button53 (in step S145). When it is determined that the set command has beenso entered, the CPU will carry out the selected manipulating-functionitem (in step S146).

When it is determined in step S145 that no set command has been entered,the CPU will judge whether a command for return operation has beenentered by pressing the control button 54 on the remote commander 50 (instep S147). When it is determined that the return operation command hasbeen so entered, the CPU will go back to step S101 where it will displaythe initial menu screen on the display screen 32. Also, when it isdetermined in step S147 that no return operation command has been soentered, the CPU will judge whether any other button has been operated(in step S148). When it is determined that any other button has not beenoperated, the CPU will go back to step S142 where it will repeat stepsincluding S142 and subsequent steps. Also, when it is determined in stepS148 that any other button has been operated, the CPU will perform amanipulating function corresponding to the operated button (in stepS149).

Also, when it is determined in step S143 that anothermanipulating-function item has been selected, the CPU will judge whetherthe selected other manipulating-function item is a manipulating-functionitem included in the first group of manipulating-function items in themenu 501 (namely, the manipulating-function item has been shifted fromone included in the second group of manipulating-function items in themenu 502 to one included in the first group of manipulating-functionitems in the menu 501) (in step S143). When it is determined in stepS143 that the selected other manipulating-function item is one includedin the second group of manipulating-function items in the menu 502, theCPU will display the selected manipulating-function item in a differentcolor from that of other items for differentiation between them (in stepS144). Thereafter, the CPU goes to step S145 where it will repeat stepsincluding S145 and subsequent steps.

When it is determined in step S1143 that the selected othermanipulating-function item belongs to the first group ofmanipulating-function items in the menu 501, the CPU will display themenu 501 including the first group of manipulating-function items in alarger size while changing the enlarged display of the menu 502including the second group of manipulating-function items to thenormal-size one, and display the selected one of themanipulating-function items in the first group in the menu 501 in adifferent color from those of the other manipulating-function items (instep S150 in FIG. 9). Thereafter, the CPU will go back to step S126where it will repeat steps including S126 and subsequent steps.

Note that although a manipulating-function item is being selected fromthe first group of the manipulating-function items in the menu 501 whenthe display on the display screen 32 is changed from the initial menuscreen to the manipulating-function menu screen as having been describedabove, the manipulating-function menu screen as shown in FIG. 6 may bedisplayed while one of the manipulating-function items in the secondgroup in the menu 502 is being selected.

<Second Example of the Manipulating-Function Menu Screen>

A second example of the user interface will be described below withreference to FIGS. 10 to 13. Also in this second example, the initialmenu screen showing medium and content icon arrays 200 and 300intersecting each other is quite the same as that in the first exampleexcept for the manipulating-function menu opened by operating an optionkey (control button 52 on the remote commander 50) while the initialmenu screen is being displayed as shown in FIG. 10A.

More specifically, in the second example, when the control button 52 asthe option key is operated, the image generator 84 deletes the mediumicon array 200 in the initial menu screen in FIG. 10A, moves the contenticon array 300 located nearly in the center of the display screen 32 ofthe monitor screen 30 to the left end of the display screen 32 as shownin FIG. 10B, and generates image data on a first manipulating-functionmenu screen showing the menu 501 including the first group ofmanipulating-function items in a space resulted from the deletion of themedium icon array 200 and movement of the content icon array 300, andthe image data is sent to the display output unit 70. The display outputunit 70 supplies the image data to the monitor display 30 which willdisplay the first manipulating-function menu screen as amanipulating-function menu screen on the display screen 32 thereof.

Therefore, it is possible to select one of the manipulating-functionitems in the first group in the menu 501 on the firstmanipulating-function menu screen.

Note that the multimedia player 20 may be adapted so that in shiftingthe screen from the initial menu screen to the firstmanipulating-function menu screen, the content icon array 300 can bemoved by the effector 83 to the left end of the display screen 32 inFIG. 10B while rotating the image of a content icon of interest in thearea of interest 300C as in the first example.

In the first manipulating-function menu screen, a triangular mark 601directed rightward is displayed as shown in FIG. 10B. FIG. 11A shows thefirst manipulating-function menu screen which is quite the same as thatin FIG. 10B.

The triangular mark 601 directed rightward in the firstmanipulating-function menu screen corresponds to a command for rightwarddirection, entered by operating the cross-shaped directional button 56on the remote commander 50. Namely, it is a reminding marking. When arightward-directional command is entered by operating the cross-shapeddirectional button 56 on the remote commander 50, the image generator 84will move the content icon array 300 rightward from the center of thedisplay screen 32 as shown in FIG. 11B, delete the first group ofmanipulating-function items in the menu 501, generates image data on thesecond manipulating-function menu screen in which the second menu 502including the second group of manipulating-function items in a leftspace of the display screen 32, taking place due to the rightwardmovement of the content icon array 300, and supply the image data to thedisplay output unit 70.

The display output unit 70 supplies the image data to the monitordisplay 30 which will display the image data as a manipulating-functionmenu screen on the display screen 32 thereof. In this secondmanipulating-function menu screen, there can be selected a desiredmanipulating-function item from the menu 502 including the second groupof manipulating-function items.

In the second manipulating-function menus screen, a triangular mark 602directed leftward will appear as shown in FIG. 11B.

The triangular mark 602 directed leftward in the secondmanipulating-function menu screen corresponds to a command for leftwarddirection, entered by operating the cross-shaped directional button 56on the remote commander 50. Namely, it is a reminding marking. When arightward-directional command is entered by operating the cross-shapeddirectional button 56 on the remote commander 50, themanipulating-function menu screen displayed on the display screen 32 ofthe monitor screen 30 shifts back to the first manipulating-functionmenu screen in which the menu 501 including the first group ofmanipulating-function items is displayed.

In this second example, in the second manipulating-function menu screen,the content icon of interest 301 in the area of interest 300C remainsdisplayed in the large size as shown in FIG. 11B. Since the secondmanipulating-function menu screen is intended for selection of any ofthe manipulating-function items in the menu 502 including the secondgroup of manipulating-function items, however, the multimedia player 20may be adapted so that the content icon of interest 301 is displayed inthe same manner as that the other content icons are displayed as in FIG.6, not in the larger size.

In the second example, the menu 501 including the first group ofmanipulating-function items and menu 502 including the second group ofmanipulating-function items are displayed at the right and left,respectively, of the content icon array 300, which permits the user toreadily know whether the menu screen is intended for selection of amanipulating-function item for a content of interest or for a pluralityof contents.

Also, since the menu 501 including the first group ofmanipulating-function items and menu 502 including the second group ofmanipulating-function items are not displayed simultaneously in onedisplay screen but only one of them is displayed along with the contenticon array, so the space for display of the group ofmanipulating-function items can be formed larger to provide aneasier-to-view menu display.

Next, there will be described with reference to flow diagrams in FIGS.12 and 13 operations made in displaying the initial menu screen andmanipulating-function menu screen, and those made in response to acommand entered by the user operating the remote commander 50, in thesecond example in this embodiment of the multimedia player according tothe present invention. It should be noted that the operation in eachstep of these flow diagrams is performed by the CPU in the multimediaplayer 20 according to a program stored in a memory such as ROM or thelike.

That is to say, the operations related to the initial menu screen arequite the same as those concerning the first example ofmanipulating-function menu screen. The operation in each of steps havingbeen described above with reference to FIG. 7 is quite the same as inthis second example.

The second example is different from the first example in operationswhich will be made after it is determined in step S110 that no contentreplay set command has been entered.

More specifically, when it is determined in step S110 that no contentreplay set command has been entered, the CPU will judge whether acommand for option has been entered by pressing the control button 52 onthe remote controller 50 (in step S161 in FIG. 12). When it isdetermined that no such command has been so entered, the CPU will returnto step S102 in FIG. 7 where it will repeat steps including step S102and subsequent steps. Also, when it is determined in step S62 that anyother control button is operated, the CPU will perform an operationcorresponding to the operated control button (in step S163).

When it is determined in step S161 that the option command has beenentered, the CPU will move the content icon array 300 to the left end ofthe display screen 32 while rotating the content icon of interest, inthis example as shown in FIG. 10B (in step S164).

Then, the CPU will thus position the content icon array 300 at the leftend of the display screen 32 as shown in FIG. 10B and display the firstmanipulating-function menu screen including only the first group ofmanipulating-function items in the menu 501 (in step S165). As mentionedabove, since a manipulating-function item being selected is regarded inthis condition as being included in the first group ofmanipulating-function items in the menu 501, the CPU will display thecontent icon of interest 301 in a larger size than that of the othercontent icons as shown in FIG. 5.

Next, the CPU judges whether another manipulating-function items hasbeen selected by operating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on theremote commander 50 (in step S166). When it is determined that anothermanipulating-function item has been so selected, the CPU will displaythe selected manipulating-function item in a different color from thatof the other items for differentiation from the other items (in stepS167). Next, the CPU will judge whether a set command has been enteredby operating the control button 53 (in step S169).

When it is determined in step S166 that any other manipulating-functionitem has not been selected, the CPU will judge whether a command forrightward direction has been entered by operating the cross-shapeddirectional button 56 on the remote commander 50 (in step S168). When itis determined that no command from rightward direction has been soentered, the CPU will judge whether a set command has been entered bypressing the control button 53 (in step S169).

Then, when it is determined in step S169 that a set command has been soentered, the CPU will perform the selected manipulating-function item(in step S170). Also, when it is determined in step S169 that no setcommand has been entered, the CPU will judge whether a return operationcommand has been entered by pressing the control button 54 on the remotecommander 50 (in step S171). When it is determined that no returnoperation command has been so entered, the CPU will go to step S101 inFIG. 7 where it will display the initial menu screen on the displayscreen 32.

Also, when it is determined in step S171 that no return operationcommand has been entered, the CPU will judge whether any other buttonhas been operated (in step S172). When it is determined that any otherbutton has not been operated, the CPU will go back to step S166 where itwill repeat steps including step S166 and subsequent steps.

When it is determined in step S172 that any other button has beenoperated, the CPU will perform an operation corresponding to theoperated button (in step S173).

When it is determined in step S1168 that a rightward direction commandhas been entered by operating the cross-shaped direction button 56 onthe remote commander 50, the CPU will control the image generator 84 togenerate, as mentioned above, a second manipulating-function menu screenwhich will be displayed on the display screen 32 of the monitor display30 as shown in FIG. 11B (in step S181 in FIG. 13).

Next, the CPU judges whether another manipulating-function item has beenselected by operating the cross-shaped directional button 56 on theremote commander 50 (in step S182). When it is determined that anothermanipulating-function item has been so selected, the CPU will displaythe selected manipulating-function item in a different color from thatof the other manipulating-function items for differentiation from theother manipulating-function items (in step S183). Next, the CPU willjudge whether a set command has been entered by operating the controlbutton 53 (in step S185).

Also when it is determined in step S182 that any othermanipulating-function item has been so selected, the CPU will judgewhether a command for leftward direction has been entered by operatingthe cross-shaped directional button 56 on the remote commander 50 (instep S184). When it is determined that the leftward direction commandhas been so entered, the CPU will go back to step S165 in FIG. 12 whereit will display the first manipulating-function menu screen on thedisplay screen 32 of the monitor display 30. Also, when it is determinedin step S184 that no command for leftward direction has been entered,the CPU will judge whether a set command has been entered by pressingthe control button 53 (in step S1185).

Then, when it is determined in step S185 that a set command has beenentered, the CPU will perform the selected manipulating-function item(in step S186). Also, when it is determined in step S185 that no setcommand has been entered, the CPU will judge whether a return operationcommand has been entered by pressing the control button 54 on the remotecommander 50 (in step S1187). When it is determined that no returnoperation command has been so entered, the CPU will go to step S101 inFIG. 7 where it will display the initial menu screen on the displayscreen 32.

Also, when it is determined in step S187 that no return operationcommand has been entered, the CPU will judge whether any other buttonhas been operated (in step S188). When it is determined that any otherbutton has not been operated, the CPU will go back to step S182 where itwill repeat steps including step S182 and subsequent steps.

When it is determined in step S188 that any other button has beenoperated, the CPU will perform an operation corresponding to theoperated button (in step S189).

Since in both the aforementioned first and second examples, the group ofmanipulating-function items for a content of interest and the group ofmanipulating-function items for a plurality of contents can be displayedin the form of a menu for ready differentiation between them as havingbeen described above, the user will be able to easily select a desiredone of the manipulating-function items without any confusion indifferentiating between the manipulating-function items.

For example, although the initial menu screen is first shifted to thefirst manipulating-function menu screen in the aforementionedembodiment, it may first be shifted to the second manipulating-functionscreen.

Also, it is of course that the correspondence between the controlbuttons on the remote commander 50 and functions indicated with lettersin the control button 400 is not limited to the aforementioned one.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the manipulating-function menu screenis displayed by operating the predetermined key such as the option keyin the initial menu screen with the medium icon array and content iconarray intersecting each other. However, the multimedia player may beadapted so that a medium type can be selected by any other method ofselecting on the type of a medium, only the content icon array bedisplayed as an initial menu screen on the screen on which replay isbeing made, and then the initial menu screen can be shifted to amanipulating-function menu screen.

Also, the multimedia player mat be adapted so that when making aselection between the first and second manipulating-function menuscreens, a content icon of interest can be rotated to help the user toreadily know that the content icon of interest is being moved and wherethe content icon of interest after moved lies.

[Other Variants]

The aforementioned multimedia player is arranged to replay a content,but it may be adapted to replay a medium. This variation is applicableto a manipulating-function item for each medium and amanipulating-function item for a plurality of media. Change of displayedorder of medium icons is an example of such a manipulating-function itemfor a plurality of medium, for example.

The manipulating-function item for a plurality of to-be-replayed objectsmay not only be directed to the displayed order of the icons for theto-be-replayed objects but to the plurality of objects themselves. Themanipulating-function items may include deletion, dubbing and othermanipulations of contents in a group of a plurality of contents, forexample.

Also, the aforementioned embodiment is an application of the presentinvention to a multimedia player. However, the present invention is notlimited to the multimedia player but may be applied to a single-mediumplayer destined for replay of contents.

Also, in the aforementioned embodiment, the initial menu screen isdesigned so that the intersectional area 200C is displayed right abovethe area of interest 300C. However, the initial menu screen may bedesigned so that the intersectional area 200C is located beneath or nearthe area of interest 300C, for example, so long as this geometry is suchthat the user can easily confirm a medium icon while looking at acontent icon of interest.

Also in the aforementioned embodiment, the medium icon array 200 andcontent icon array 300 are displayed horizontally and vertically,respectively, on the display screen 32. However, the multimedia playermay be adapted so that these arrays 200 and 300 are displayed obliquely,respectively.

Further in the aforementioned embodiment, the medium icon and contenticon in the intersectional area 200C and area of interest 300C on thedisplay screen 32 are displayed being emphasized. As a variant, however,the multimedia player 20 may be adapted so that an icon in the center ofthe display screen 32 can be relatively emphasized by displaying othericons than the medium icon and content icon of interest in theintersectional area 200C and area of interest 300C in color gradationfrom these areas toward the ends of the display screen 32. This colorgradation may be such that the brightness and color saturation islowered in directions toward the ends of the display screen 32, forexample, or the a value (alpha blend value) for blending with a contentimage being replayed in the background area 34 on the display screen 32is decreased in directions toward the ends of the display screen 32.

In the foregoing, there have been illustrated and described themultimedia player 20 in which the intersectional area 200C and area ofinterest 300C are displayed generally in the center of the displayscreen 32. However, the multimedia player may be designed so that theuser can freely set positions where the intersectional area 200C andarea of interest 300C are displayed. Namely, although the intersectionalarea 200C and area of interest 300C should preferably be displayed inthe center of the display screen 32 in principle, the multimedia playermay be adapted so that the displayed positions of the areas may be setfreely and flexibly by the user to his or her own taste.

Some more variants will be described below. Although a medium icon isselected by entering a command for vertical scroll in the aforementionedembodiment, the multimedia player may be adapted so that selection of amedium icon can be set with a definite set command entered by the user.

Similarly, a content icon is selected by entering a command forhorizontal scroll in the aforementioned embodiment. However, themultimedia player may be adapted so that selection of a content icon canbe set with a definite set command entered by the user.

In the aforementioned embodiment, there is always displayed the mediumicon array 200 on the menu screen. However, the multimedia player may beadapted so that there is always displayed the content icon array 300 onthe menu screen without displaying any medium icon array or neither themedium icon array 200 nor the content icon array 300 are displayed onthe menu screen. In these cases, the layout of the menu screen canflexibly be set to the user's taste because constant display of acontent icon of interest will allow the user to easily know in whichmedium the content icon is included.

In the menu screen in the aforementioned embodiment, only a contentcorresponding to a medium icon positioned in the intersectional area200C is displayed as the content icon array 300. According to thepresent invention, however, the multimedia player may be adapted so thatmultiple content icons are displayed in the form of a matrix over thedisplay screen 32 by displaying other media, for example, contentscorresponding to all the media, in a content icon array in the initialmenu screen. Even in this case, however, one area of interest 300C isprovided as in the aforementioned embodiment and a content icondisplayed in the area of interest 300C is taken as an icon for a contentof interest.

In this case, other content icons than in a central content icon array300 may be displayed in a different manner than that for the contenticon array 300, for example, with a lower brightness and colorsaturation.

Further, the aforementioned multimedia player as the embodiment of thepresent invention is not provided with any display but the presentinvention can of course provide a multimedia player having a display.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been described in detailconcerning a certain preferred embodiment thereof as an example withreference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understoodby those ordinarily skilled in the art that the present invention is notlimited to the embodiment but can be modified in various manners,constructed alternatively or embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit thereof as set forth and defined inthe appended claims.

1. A playback device comprising: a command input unit to accept amanipulation command entered by the user; a display controller togenerate image data on a manipulating-function menu screen including aplurality of identification miniature images for respective ones of aplurality of to-be-replayed objects; and a display output unit to outputthe manipulating-function menu screen image data from the displaycontroller to a display unit, the display controller functioning to:display the plurality of identification miniature images for respectiveones of the plurality of to-be-replayed objects simultaneously on onedisplay screen with taking one of the to-be-replayed objectscorresponding to one of the identification miniature images in apredetermined position as a to-be-replayed object of interest, whiledisplaying a first group of a plurality of manipulating-function itemsfor each of the to-be-replayed objects and a second group of a pluralityof manipulating-function items for each of the plurality ofto-be-replayed objects so that one of the manipulating-function itemscan be selected by an operation made via the command input unit, with anindication of which one of the manipulating-function items is beingselected; and display, during selection of any one of themanipulating-function items included in the first group, theidentification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest in such a manner that the identification miniatureimage can be differentiated from the other identification miniatureimages.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the displaycontroller displays the first and second groups of manipulating-functionitems when a predetermined manipulation command is accepted via thecommand input unit while the plurality of identification miniatureimages for the respective to-be-replayed objects is being displayed onone display screen with a to-be-replayed object corresponding to aidentification miniature image in a predetermined position being takenas a to-be-replayed object of interest.
 3. The device according to claim2, wherein, when the predetermined manipulation command is entered viathe command input unit, the plurality of identification miniature imagesfor the respective to-be-replayed objects is moved to a one-sidedposition on the display screen, and the first and second groups ofmanipulating-function items are displayed in a space resulted from themovement of the identification miniature images.
 4. The device accordingto claim 3, wherein, when a first one of the groups of identificationminiature images is moved to a one-sided position on the display screen,the identification miniature image of the to-be-replayed object ofinterest is displayed with an indication of the movement of theidentification miniature images corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein theidentification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest is rotated with an indication of the movement of theidentification miniature image.
 6. The device according to claim 1,wherein while any one of the manipulating-function items included in atthe least the first group is being selected, the identificationminiature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interestis displayed in a different manner (size, color, lighting, blinking orthe like) from that in which the other identification miniature imagesare displayed, and while any one of the manipulating-function itemsincluded in the second group is being selected, the identificationminiature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interestis displayed in the same manner as that in which the otheridentification miniature images are displayed.
 7. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein either of the first and second groups ofmanipulating-function items, whichever includes themanipulating-function item being selected, is displayed being emphasizedfor differentiation from the other group.
 8. The device according toclaim 1, wherein a plurality of medium types can be replayed and aplurality of contents in each of the media can be replayed.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 8, wherein: a plurality of types of media canbe replayed, a plurality of contents in each of the media can bereplayed, and the to-be-replayed object is the content that can bereplayed; the identification miniature images corresponding to theto-be-replayed objects are taken as first identification miniatureimages while the identification miniature images corresponding to therespective ones of the plurality of types of media are taken as secondidentification miniature images; the display controller functions to:display a menu in which the plurality of first identification miniatureimages is arrayed in a first direction on the display screen while theplurality of second identification miniature images is arrayed in asecond direction intersecting the first direction, and a contentcorresponding to one of the first identification miniature imagespositioned near the intersection between the first- andsecond-directional arrays is taken as a content in the to-be-replayedobject of interest; and display, in the display screen displaying themenu having displayed thereon the first- and second-directional arraysintersecting each other, the manipulating-function menu screen includingthe first-directional array of the plurality of first identificationminiature images with deletion of the second-directional array of theplurality of second identification miniature images, when apredetermined operation is made via the command input unit.
 10. Thedevice according to claim 9, wherein at least the first identificationminiature images arrayed in the first direction is scrolled in the firstdirection by a predetermined operation made via the command input unitto allow the content in the to-be-replayed object of interest at theintersection to be changed.
 11. The device according to claim 9, whereinin the display screen displaying the first and second identificationminiature image arrays intersecting each other, the first-directionalarray of the first identification miniature images is moved to aone-sided position on the display screen and the first and second groupsof manipulating-function items are displayed in a space resulted fromthe movement of the first-directional array of the first identificationminiature images.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein when thefirst-directional array of the first identification miniature images ismoved to the one-side position on the display screen, the identificationminiature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interestis displayed with an indication of the movement of the first-directionalarray.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the identificationminiature image corresponding to a content in the to-be-replayed objectof interest is rotated to indicate the movement of the first-directionalarray.
 14. A playback device comprising: a command input unit to accepta command entered by the user; a display controller to generate imagedata on a manipulating-function menu screen including a plurality ofidentification miniature images for respective ones of a plurality ofto-be-replayed objects; and a display output unit to output themanipulating-function menu screen image data from the display controllerto a display unit, the display controller functioning to: selectivelydisplay, by a predetermined operated made via the command input unit, afirst manipulating-function menu screen in which a plurality ofidentification miniature images for the respective plurality ofto-be-replayed objects is displayed simultaneously on one display screenwith a to-be-replayed objects corresponding to a identificationminiature image in a predetermined position being taken as ato-be-replayed object of interest and also a first group of a pluralityof manipulating-function items for each of the to-be-replayed objects isdisplayed so that one of the manipulating-function items can be selectedby an operation made via the command input unit, and with an indicationof which one of the manipulating-function items is being selected, and asecond manipulating-function menu screen in which the plurality ofidentification miniature images for respective ones of the plurality ofto-be-replayed objects is displayed simultaneously on one display screenwith a to-be-replayed objects corresponding to the identificationminiature image in a predetermined position being taken as ato-be-replayed object of interest and also a second group of a pluralityof manipulating-function items for the plurality of to-be-replayedobjects is displayed so that one of the manipulating-function items canbe selected by an operation made the command input unit, and with anindication of which one of the manipulating-function items is beingselected; and display, during selection any one of themanipulating-function items included in at least the first group, theidentification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest in such a manner that the identification miniatureimage can be differentiated from the other identification miniatureimages.
 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the plurality ofidentification miniature images for the respective to-be-replayedobjects is moved at the same time in one direction on the display screencorrespondingly to the selection between the first and secondmanipulating-function menu screens, and the first group ofmanipulating-function items is placed at one side in the movingdirection with respect to the plurality of identification miniatureimages while the second group of manipulating-function items is placedat the other side in the moving direction with respect to the pluralityof identification miniature images.
 16. The device according to claim14, wherein a plurality of types of media can be replayed and aplurality of contents in each of the media can be replayed.
 17. Thedevice according to claim 16, wherein: the identification miniatureimages corresponding to the to-be-replayed objects are taken as a firstidentification miniature image while the identification miniature imagescorresponding to each of the plurality of medium types are taken as asecond identification miniature image; the display controller functionsto: display a menu in which the plurality of first identificationminiature images is arrayed in a first direction on the display screenand the plurality of second identification miniature images is arrayedin a second direction intersecting the first direction on the displayscreen, and a content corresponding to the first identificationminiature image in a position near the intersection between the firstand second arrays being taken as a content in the to-be-replayed contentof interest; and display, in the menu screen showing the first andsecond arrays intersecting each other, either the first or secondmanipulating-function menu screen including the first-directional arrayof the plurality of first identification miniature images with thesecond-directional array of the plurality of second identificationminiature images being deleted when a predetermined command is enteredvia the command input unit.
 18. The device according to claim 17,wherein at least the first identification miniature images arrayed inthe first direction is scrolled in the first direction by apredetermined operation made via the command input unit to allow thecontent in the to-be-replayed object of interest at the intersection tobe changed.
 19. The device according to claim 17, wherein in the displayscreen displaying the first and second identification miniature imagearrays intersecting each other, the first-directional array of the firstidentification miniature images is moved to a one-sided position on thedisplay screen and the first or second group of manipulating-functionitems is displayed in a space resulted from the movement of thefirst-directional array of the first identification miniature images.20. The device according to claim 19, wherein when the first-directionalarray of the first identification miniature images is moved to theone-side position on the display screen, the identification miniatureimage corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest isdisplayed with an indication of the movement of the first-directionalarray.
 21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the identificationminiature image is rotated to indicate the movement of thefirst-directional array.
 22. A method of displaying a manipulation menuin a playback device, the method comprising the steps of: outputting, toa display device, image data on a manipulating-function menu screen inwhich a plurality of identification miniature images for respective onesof a plurality of to-be-replayed objects is displayed simultaneously onone display screen with the to-be-replayed object corresponding to theidentification miniature image in a predetermined position being takenas a to-be-replayed object of interest, and a first group of a pluralityof manipulating-function items for each of the to-be-replayed objectsand a second group of a plurality of manipulating-function items for theplurality of to-be-replayed objects, are displayed so that one of themanipulating-functions can be selected by an operation made via thecommand input unit, and with an indication of which one of themanipulating-function items being selected; accepting a command forselection of one of the manipulating-function items, entered by theuser; displaying, when a select command accepted in the select commandaccepting step is for selection of any one of the manipulating-functionitems included in the first group, the selected identification miniatureimage for differentiation from the other manipulating-function items aswell as for differentiation between the identification miniature imagecorresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest and otheridentification miniature images; and displaying, when the select commandaccepted in the select command accepting step is for selection of anyone of the manipulating-function items included in the second group, theselected identification miniature image for differentiation from theother manipulating-function items and the identification miniature imagecorresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest in the samemanner as that in which the other identification miniature images aredisplayed.
 23. A method of displaying a manipulation menu in a playbackdevice, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality ofidentification miniature images for respective ones of to-be-replayedobjects simultaneously on one display screen with taking one of theto-be-replayed objects corresponding to one of the identificationminiature images in a predetermined position as a to-be-replayed objectof interest; accepting a first predetermined command entered by theuser; outputting, to a display unit, image data on amanipulating-function menu screen in which a first group of a pluralityof manipulating-function items for each of the to-be-replayed objectsand a second group of a plurality of manipulating-function items for theplurality of to-be-replayed objects are displayed so that one of themanipulating-functions can be selected when the first command isaccepted in the first command accepting step, and with a display ofwhich one of the manipulating-function items being selected; accepting asecond command for selection of one of the manipulating-function itemsin the first or second group, entered by the user; displaying, when theselect command accepted in the second command accepting step is forselection of any one of the manipulating-function items included in thefirst group, the selected identification miniature image fordifferentiation from the other manipulating-function items as well asfor differentiation between the identification miniature imagecorresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest and otheridentification miniature images; and displaying, when the select commandaccepted in the second command accepting step is for selection of anyone of the manipulating-function items included in the second group, theselected identification miniature image for differentiation from theother manipulating-function items and the identification miniature imagecorresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest in the samemanner as that in which the other identification miniature images aredisplayed.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein, when thepredetermined manipulation command is entered via the command inputunit, the plurality of identification miniature images for therespective to-be-replayed objects is moved to a one-sided position onthe display screen, and the first and second groups ofmanipulating-function items are displayed in a space resulted from themovement of the identification miniature images.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 24, wherein, when a first one of the groups ofidentification miniature images is moved to a one-sided position on thedisplay screen, the identification miniature image of the to-be-replayedobject of interest is displayed with an indication of the movement ofthe identification miniature images corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest.
 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein theidentification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest is rotated with an indication of the movement of theidentification miniature images.
 27. The method according to claim 22,wherein either of the first and second groups of manipulating-functionitems, whichever includes the manipulating-function item being selected,is displayed being emphasized for differentiation from the other group.28. The method according to claim 22, wherein: a plurality of mediumtypes can be replayed; a plurality of contents in each of the media canbe replayed; and the to-be-replayed object is a content that can bereplayed.
 29. A method of displaying a manipulation menu in a playbackdevice, comprising: displaying a menu including an array in which aplurality of first identification miniature images corresponding to eachof a plurality of types of media which can be replayed is laid in a linein a first direction on a display screen and an array in which aplurality of second identification miniature images corresponding toeach of the contents which can be replayed is laid in a line in a seconddirection intersecting the first direction on the display screen, withtaking a content corresponding to one of the first identificationminiature images positioned near the intersection between the first- andsecond-directional arrays as a to-be-replayed content of interest;displaying, in the menu screen showing the first and second arraysintersecting each other when a predetermined operation is made via thecommand input unit, a manipulating-function menu screen including thesecond-directional array of the plurality of second identificationminiature images with deletion of the first-directional array of theplurality of first identification miniature images and in which a firstgroup of a plurality of manipulating-function items for each of thecontent and a second group of a plurality of manipulating-function itemsfor the plurality of to-be-replayed objects of interest so that one ofthe plurality of manipulating-function items can be selected, acceptinga command entered by the user; displaying, when the command entered inthe command accepting step is for selection of any one of themanipulating-function items included in the first group, the selectedmanipulation-function item for differentiation from the othermanipulating-function items and the second identification miniatureimage corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest fordifferentiation from the other second identification miniature images;and displaying, when the command entered in the command accepted in thecommand accepting step is for selection of any one of themanipulating-function items included in the second group, the selectedmanipulating-function item for differentiation from the othermanipulating-function items and the second identification miniatureimage corresponding to the to-to-replayed object of interest in the samemanner as that in which the other second identification miniature imagesare displayed.
 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein either ofthe first and second groups of manipulating-function items, whicheverincludes the manipulating-function item being selected, is displayedbeing emphasized for differentiation from the other group.
 31. Themethod according to claim 29, wherein the content in the to-be-replayedobject of interest at the intersection can be changed with at least thesecond identification miniature images arrayed in the second directionbeing scrolled in the second direction by making a predeterminedoperation of the command input unit.
 32. The method according to claim29 or 31, wherein when a predetermined operation is made via the commandinput unit while the first and second identification miniature imagearrays intersecting each other are being displayed on the displayscreen, the second-directional array of the second identificationminiature images is moved to a one-sided position on the display screenand the first and second groups of manipulating-function items aredisplayed in a space resulted from the movement of thesecond-directional array.
 33. The method according to claim 32, whereinwhen the second-directional array including the plurality of the secondidentification miniature images is moved to a one-side position on thedisplay screen, the second identification miniature image correspondingto the content in the to-be-replayed object of interest is displayedwith an indication of the movement of the second-directional array. 34.The method according to claim 33, wherein the second identificationminiature image corresponding to the content in the to-be-replayedobject of interest is rotated to indicate the movement of thesecond-directional array.
 35. A method of displaying a manipulation menuin a display device, comprising the steps of: displaying a firstmanipulating-function menu screen in which a plurality of identificationminiature images for the respective to-be-replayed objects is displayedsimultaneously on one display screen with taking one of theto-be-replayed objects corresponding to one of the identificationminiature images in a predetermined position as a to-be-replayed objectof interest and also a first group of a plurality ofmanipulating-function items for each of the to-be-replayed objects isdisplayed so that one of the manipulating-function items can beselected; and switching, when a first predetermined command entered bythe user is accepted while the first manipulating-function menu screenis being displayed, the latter to a second manipulating-function menuscreen in which the plurality of identification miniature images for theplurality of to-be-replayed objects is displayed simultaneously on onedisplay screen with taking one of the to-be-replayed objectscorresponding to one of the identification miniature images in thepredetermined position as a to-be-replayed object of interest and also asecond group of a plurality of manipulating-function items for therespective to-be-replayed objects is displayed so that one of themanipulating-function items to can be selected; switching the secondmanipulating-function menu screen being displayed to the firstmanipulating-function menu screen when a predetermined second commandentered by the user is accepted while the second manipulating-functionmenu screen is being displayed; and displaying the identificationminiature image corresponding to the to-b-replayed object of interest inat least the first manipulating-function menu screen for differentiationfrom the other identification miniature images.
 36. The method accordingto claim 35, wherein when a third predetermined command entered by theuser is accepted while a plurality of identification miniature imagesfor the respective to-be-replayed objects is being displayedsimultaneously on one screen with taking the to-be-replayed objectcorresponding to the identification miniature image in a predeterminedposition as a to-be-replayed object of interest, the first or secondmanipulating-function menu screen is displayed.
 37. The method accordingto claim 36, wherein when the third predetermined command entered by theuser is accepted while a plurality of identification miniature imagesfor the respective to-be-replayed objects is being displayedsimultaneously on one screen with taking the to-be-replayed objectcorresponding to the identification miniature image in a predeterminedposition as a to-be-replayed object of interest, the plurality ofidentification miniature images is moved to a one-sided position on thedisplay screen and the first and second groups of manipulating-functionitems are displayed in a space resulted from the movement of theidentification miniature images.
 38. The method according to claim 35,wherein: a plurality of medium types can be replayed, a plurality ofcontents in each of the media can be replayed, and the to-be-replayedobject is a content that can be replayed; there are included the stepsof: displaying a menu including an array in which a plurality of firstidentification miniature images corresponding to each of a plurality oftypes of media which can be replayed is laid in a line in a firstdirection on a display screen and an array in which a plurality ofsecond identification miniature images corresponding to each of thecontents which can be replayed is laid in a line in a second directionintersecting the first direction on the display screen, with taking acontent corresponding to one of the first identification miniatureimages positioned near the intersection between the first- andsecond-directional arrays as a to-be-replayed content of interest; anddisplaying, in the menu screen showing the first and second arraysintersecting each other when a predetermined third command is entered,the first or second manipulating-function menu screen including thesecond-directional array of the plurality of second identificationminiature images with deletion of the first-directional array of theplurality of first identification miniature images.
 39. The methodaccording to claim 38, wherein, when the predetermined third command isentered, the second-directional array of the plurality of secondidentification miniature images is moved to a one-sided position on thedisplay screen, and the first or second group of manipulating-functionitems is displayed in a space resulted from the movement of theidentification miniature images.
 40. The method according to claim 37,wherein, when the first group of identification miniature images ismoved to the one-sided position on the display screen, theidentification miniature image of the to-be-replayed object of interestis displayed with an indication of the movement.
 41. The methodaccording to claim 39, wherein when the second array of the plurality ofsecond identification miniature images is moved to a one-sided positionon the display screen, the identification miniature image correspondingto the to-be-replayed object of interest is displayed with an indicationof the movement.
 42. The method according to claim 40, wherein theidentification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayedobject of interest is rotated with an indication of the movement. 43.The method according to claim 35, wherein the plurality ofidentification miniature images corresponding to each of the respectiveto-be-replayed objects is moved at the same time in one direction on thedisplay screen correspondingly to the selection between the first andsecond manipulating-function menu screens, and the first group ofmanipulating-function items is placed at one side in the movingdirection with respect to the plurality of identification miniatureimages while the second group of manipulating-function items is placedat the other side in the moving direction with respect to the pluralityof identification miniature images.